FAQ
The Basics
1. What’s this Southern Fried Smackdown Tournament?
Smackdown is WFTDA’s South Central Regional Tournament. It’s an invite-only tournament; the top ten teams in the region will be competing for a spot in November’s Nationals to be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Everyone’s in it for a ticket to the Big Show, so the derby will be fierce and first-class. It’s called the Southern Fried Smackdown ’cause we’re from the Dirty South and frying stuff is like a regional pastime up in hurr (here).
2. When is Smackdown?
The Southern Fried Smackdown Tournament (Smackdown or SFS) will take place on Friday, September 25, through Sunday, September 27, in Atlanta, Georgia. Games will begin at 10 am on Friday and Saturday and 12 pm on Sunday (Sunday sleep-ins are the jam! or go to church!?). The tournament will be held at the Yaarab Shrine Temple (400 Ponce De Leon Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30308-1852). The Atlanta Rollergirls love the Shriners and the Shriners love helping kids with disabilities, so it’s a win-win.
3. What’s the game schedule?
Ten (10) teams will be competing in this single-elimination tournament with WFTDA regulation 60 minute bouts. A full schedule can be found on the website once the format has been approved. Feel free to print the brackets for some “March Madness” – type action (but it’s even better than March Madness, because it’s ROLLER DERBY!). Also, the Atlanta Rollergirls do not condone gambling because gambling is bad.
4. Who’s invited?
WFTDA will finalize the rankings for all teams in the South Central Region by July 27. If you are seeded into the Top Ten in the South Central region, your Golden Ticket, complete with registration instructions and hospitality info, will be arriving on your doorsteps (read: inboxes) by the 28th of July. If you have not received any info by July 28 (and you are Top Ten in the South Central), please contact Pearl Reckless.
5. You have mentioned fried things, may I have some?
Shriners has many delicious fried things; you could almost say they are Gourmets of the Fryers. Hamburgers, veggie burgers, french fries, onion rings, cotton candy, sodas (they do not fry their sodas). There is a Whole Foods nearby for healthier fare and if your arteries actually want a fighting chance to do great things.
*PLEASE NOTE: Shriners is a BYOB establishment. There are no beer sales at the venue. You are welcome to bring in alcohol; only cans and plastic cups are allowed. NO GLASS or it’s YOUR ASS!! In addition, the state of Georgia does not allow alcohol or beer sales on Sundays. Seriously. We are the buckle of the Bible Belt. Plan accordingly.
Team Registration
1. What do I need to know about registration?
We will be using Basecamp for all of our paperwork and communication. Your emailed invite and login information will arrive shortly. The basecamp site will give any details you might need – from how tos, number of players, and support comp’ed to hotel and rental car info. If you have any questions at all (big or small, smart or dumb) about registration, Pearl Reckless is your woman. If you have any hospitality questions like “which hotel is within stumbling distance of the afterparty?,” Spazz Attaque can help. A contact list with important names and numbers will be included in the registration packets so you will have the cell numbers of key SFS staff (though if you crank call us with some heavy breathing or with requests to speak to a Mr. Seymore Butts, we may have some words).
2. Registration fees, how much do I owe ya?
It’s $500 per team. Registration fees will cover entry for 20 skaters and support staff (e.g. coaches, bench manager, team photographer). League announcer(s) will not figure into team comps as they will be categorized separately as volunteers.
Volunteer and Spectator Information
1. If you are coming to Smackdown to skate, or to watch folks skate, or to watch folks skate and then throw them in the box for skating wrong, or to watch folks skate and wish you were skating too:
Any friends, family, or visiting leagues who would like a hospitality packet with bout times, hotel and restaurant info, please download your own copy of the Hospitality packet. It will be posted on the Smackdown website after July 29. The hospitality packet includes all of the important info and tips for a visit to the ATL. Please note our venue is small and space is limited. We have less than 500 seats available per day for spectators. Buy your tickets early!
All skaters, refs, NSOs, and volunteers will be sent a packet as soon as possible. If you are volunteering and have not received sufficient info, please email Spazz Attaque. She’ll hook you up.
2. Tickets for friends, family, and derby sisters!
If your Ma and Pa are coming, they need tickets.. Ticket options are listed below:
Available Tickets
Individual passes per day: $25
3 Day Passes (a.k.a. whatta deal!): $60
Purchase tickets now!
Late-breaking special: Friday, September 25, 8PM Game: $15
This pass includes admission only for the Friday, September 25, 8PM game featuring the Atlanta Rollergirls vs. Dallas Derby Devils.
SOLD OUT
3 Day VIP Passes (a.k.a. you get extra special stuff & reserved seating & the envy of non-VIPers): $80
3. Where to stay that isn’t scary or that hasn’t been featured on “The First 48!”
Though you may think the Clermont Hotel is very convenient to the venue and would be a great bargain, GG Allin used to live there. Again, GG Allin used to live there. Period. Likewise, if Smackdown was a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book, choosing to stay at the Atlanta Motel would get you to page 70. On page 70, your adventure would end.
If you have found a hotel/motel and would like an Atlantan’s opinion on whether or not it is copasetic prior to booking, please feel free to contact The Notorious R.I.P..
Please note: Smackdown hotel information (group rates, etc.) will be posted after July 29. We would like to allow participating teams first dibs on rooms, so they will be receiving codes, etc. first. If it becomes necessary to add additional hotels, we will post additional hotel information and group rates.
Tournament Documents
Tournament Brackets
Want to plot out the winning course for your team during the 2009 regionals? Then check out the 2009 WFTDA Regionals Bracket for bout times and teams.
Sponsorship Information
For details on sponsorship packages and vendor space for all five (5) WFTDA Tournaments (4 regional and 1 national) or Atlanta’s local tournament Southern Fried Smackdown, check out the 2009 WFTDA Sponsor Packet for more information. Still have questions? Feel free to contact Dark Crystal.
2009 WFTDA Sponsor Packet (PDF)